NEW DIRECTION FOR THE AUSTRALIAN MOTOR SPORT FOUNDATION (AMSF)

The Australian Motor Sport Foundation Board of Directors have outsourced its decade old operation, previously located at the Confederation of Australian Motorsport, to Skaife Racing as of this month.

The AMSF had sought proposals from interested parties to oversee and facilitate the structure that monitors the progress of talented young drivers via financial and management assistance, through local entry levels of motorsport and international competition by way of CAMS Rising Star and International Rising Star programs.

In announcing the new arrangement the AMSF Board Chairman Tom Warwick said "After ten years since its inception it was time to increase the scope and dynamics of the AMSF. We had received some outstanding proposals and decided that Mark Skaife, his operations manager Lucas Docking and support team will give the AMSF the additional commercial energy to implement new fundraising and operational
initiatives."

CAMS President Andrew Papadopolous concurred. "This new approach with Skaife Racing looking after the everyday management of the AMSF will see great benefits to our sponsors and supporters and increase the chance of success for our young drivers."

Drivers over the years to have received assistance from the AMSF include 2010 V8 Supercar champion James Courtney, 2009 Bathurst winner Will Davison, Indycar's Will Power, Rally drivers Chris Atkinson and Molly Taylor, Formula One test driver Daniel Ricciardo and current British Formula Ford Champion Scott Pye.

"This is an exciting appointment for us" said Mark Skaife. "Aussies have really made their presence felt on the world stage over the last few years and we want to keep that momentum going through the next generation of driving talent."

"We intend to implement some new strategies to polish up our raw talent by overseeing and assisting with the progression of these drivers to help with their on-track results and increase their marketability as elite sportsmen and sportswomen. "

"Plans are also afoot to establish alliances with local and international teams while promoting community relationships through using drivers as role model ambassadors." Skaife added.

Operations manager Lucas Docking already has established connections with Australians racing overseas. Lucas is the nephew of highly regarded expatriate English based team owner Alan Docking, who has progressed the early careers of Mark Webber, Marcos Ambrose, Will Power and Will Davison plus V8 team chiefs Tim Edwards and Rob Crawford.

"I look forward to following in 'Doco's' footsteps and feel privileged to assist in the development of future generations of Australian motorsport." Lucas said.